1 November.
Mina Harker and Dr. Van Helsing traveled fast all day. The horses were good and strong. Dr. Van Helsing paid the farmers for new horses. The country was very beautiful. The people were kind but very superstitious (believing in magic or bad luck).
In one house, a woman saw the scar on Mina Harker’s forehead. She was afraid of the evil eye (a look that some people believe causes bad luck). She put a lot of garlic in the food. Mina Harker kept her hat on so people did not see the scar.
Dr. Van Helsing did not rest all day. At sunset, he used hypnosis on Mina Harker. She said, “Darkness, water, and wood.” This meant Count Dracula was still on the river. Mina Harker was not afraid for Jonathan Harker. She trusted God.
2 November, morning.
Mina Harker and Dr. Van Helsing took turns driving the carriage all night. The air felt very heavy and cold. At dawn, Dr. Van Helsing used hypnosis again. Mina Harker said the water was roaring. The river was becoming fast and dangerous.
2 November, night.
They drove all day. The mountains were very close now. Dr. Van Helsing said they would reach the Borgo Pass by morning. They had four horses now. They did not see any other travelers.
Mina Harker felt sad. She felt "unclean" because of the vampire's blood. She prayed to God to make her clean again.
Memorandum by Abraham Van Helsing.
4 November.
Dr. Van Helsing writes a letter to Dr. Seward. He is at a camp fire. It is very cold and it is snowing. Mina Harker is very sleepy. She sleeps all day. She does not write in her journal.
At sunset, Dr. Van Helsing tried to use hypnosis. It did not work. The Count’s power over Mina Harker was changing.
They reached the Borgo Pass yesterday morning. Dr. Van Helsing used hypnosis one last time. Mina Harker said, “Darkness and water.” Then she woke up. She pointed to a small road. She said, “This is the way.” She knew the way from Jonathan Harker’s journal.
They drove for many hours. Mina Harker slept the whole time. Dr. Van Helsing tried to wake her, but he could not. The sun began to set. The mountains were wild and rocky.
Mina Harker woke up at sunset. She looked very healthy and bright. She made supper for Dr. Van Helsing. She said she was very hungry and ate already. Dr. Van Helsing was worried. He was afraid because she was changing.
5 November, morning.
Dr. Van Helsing is afraid he is going mad. Yesterday, they traveled into the wild mountains. Mina Harker slept all day again. He could not wake her for food. He feared the vampire's power was taking her.
They reached the top of a steep hill. Dr. Van Helsing saw the castle. It was the same castle from Jonathan Harker’s diary. It was almost dark. He put the horses in a safe place. He made a fire for Mina Harker.
Then, Dr. Van Helsing drew a large circle in the snow around Mina Harker. He put pieces of the Wafer (holy bread used in church) on the circle. This was a Holy Circle (a magic circle that evil things cannot enter). Mina Harker sat very still. She was as white as the snow.
Dr. Van Helsing asked her to come to the fire. She tried to walk, but she stopped. She said, “I cannot!” She could not cross the Holy Circle. Dr. Van Helsing was happy. This meant her soul was still safe from evil.
During the night, the horses were very afraid. The snow fell. Dr. Van Helsing saw shapes in the mist. They looked like three women in long dresses. These were the vampire women. They circled the Holy Circle. They could not get in.
The vampire women laughed. They pointed at Mina Harker. They said, “Come, sister! Come to us!” Mina Harker was very afraid. Dr. Van Helsing held some of the Wafer and some firewood. He went to the fire. The vampires ran away from the holy bread.
At dawn, the vampire women disappeared into the snow. Dr. Van Helsing looked at the horses. They were all dead. They died of fear. Mina Harker fell into a deep sleep. Dr. Van Helsing prepared for his terrible work at the castle.
Jonathan Harker’s Journal.
4 November, evening.
The boat had an accident. It was a terrible delay. Jonathan Harker and Lord Godalming are now on horses. They are following the Count’s trail. They have their guns ready.
Dr. Seward’s Diary.
5 November.
At dawn, Dr. Seward and Quincey Morris saw a group of men. They were Szgany (a group of people who travel together). They had a large wagon (a large cart for carrying things). The men moved very fast.
Dr. Seward heard wolves howling in the mountains. He and Quincey Morris got their horses ready. They were riding to a dangerous fight.
Dr. Van Helsing’s Memorandum.
5 November, afternoon.
Dr. Van Helsing went to the castle. He used a hammer to break open the old doors. He found the chapel. He found the tombs (stone boxes for dead bodies).
He found the three vampire women. They were sleeping. They were very beautiful. Dr. Van Helsing felt a strange desire to wait. But then he heard Mina Harker’s voice in his mind. It was a cry for help.
He began his "butcher work." He drove a stake (a pointed piece of wood) through each vampire. He cut off their heads. They turned into dust immediately. Then he found a very large tomb. It said "DRACULA" on it. It was empty. He put the Wafer inside the tomb. Now the Count could never return there.
Dr. Van Helsing went back to Mina Harker. She woke up and was happy to see him. They began to travel east to find their friends.
Mina Harker’s Journal.
6 November.
Mina Harker and Dr. Van Helsing walked down the hill. It was very cold. They saw the castle on a high precipice (a very steep side of a mountain). It looked old and evil.
They found a place to hide between two large rocks. Dr. Van Helsing used his glasses to look at the land. He saw a group of men on a wagon. It was the Szgany. They had a large chest on the wagon.
The sun was setting. At sunset, the Count would be free to move. Dr. Van Helsing drew another Holy Circle around Mina Harker to keep her safe.
Then they saw more men on horses. It was Dr. Seward and Quincey Morris. From another side, Jonathan Harker and Lord Godalming arrived. They were all chasing the wagon.
The sun was very low. The wolves were coming closer. The Szgany stopped the wagon. They drew their knives and guns.
Jonathan Harker and Quincey Morris jumped off their horses. They ran toward the wagon. The Szgany tried to stop them. Jonathan Harker was very fast. He jumped onto the wagon. He threw the big box onto the ground.
Quincey Morris fought the men. A gypsy cut Quincey Morris with a knife. Blood came from his side. But Quincey did not stop.
Jonathan Harker used his large knife to open the box. Quincey Morris helped him. The lid of the box opened. Count Dracula was inside. He was very pale. His red eyes looked at the setting sun. He thought he was winning.
But Jonathan Harker moved his large knife fast. He cut the Count’s throat. At the same moment, Quincey Morris pushed his knife into the Count’s heart.
It was a miracle. The Count’s body turned into dust. He disappeared forever. On his face, there was a look of peace.
The Szgany were afraid and rode away. The wolves followed them. The group was alone in the snow.
Quincey Morris fell to the ground. He was dying. Mina Harker ran to him. The scar on her forehead was gone. She was clean again.
Quincey Morris pointed to her face. He said, “I am happy to help. Look! Her forehead is clean! The curse is gone!” Then, Quincey Morris died.
NOTE
Seven years have passed. Mina Harker and Jonathan Harker are very happy. They have a son. His birthday is the same day that Quincey Morris died. They named the boy Quincey.
Dr. Seward and Lord Godalming are also married and happy.
The group returned to Transylvania one summer. The castle was still there, but the evil was gone. They looked at their old journals and papers. They knew the story was wild. Most people would not believe it.
But they did not need proof. They knew the truth. Their son would grow up and know that his mother was a brave woman. He would know that brave men loved her and fought for her.
THE END